All ok, Feb here now. Last Friday actually, but been away for the weekend. So far so good, but I am only up to the book review on page 49.

I did however sneak a look at Buckley's group test of '70s Luxo-Coupes as a long term SLC fan and owner, and I have to agree wholeheartedly with his summing up. While it has the others beat in terms of build quality and scores good points in all departments, it shines in none. I find it very easy to live with, but to be truthful I would prefer a Jag/Daimler coupe if I could ever find one built to M-B standards. The Beemer looks ok, but there was always something slightly 'pimpy' about them even before pimpstyle became fashionable, and the Fiat I have always admired but for one question. If Martin says he is biased because he has one, then he has a huge advantage over the rest of us, because when was the last time anyone saw a good clean solid one of those? And what chance a RHD?

Other comments; loved Martin's tale of recovering the knackered Rolls and Bentley pair, only he could get away with trying to revive a tired Bentley interior with a can of Mr Sheen, Walsh and Taylor again bring valuable insights to the lesser seen corners of the hobby, and James at last opens the 'Barn Find' can of worms up for honest debate. Let's face it the auction houses have always done a good trade in old cars brought to light after laying dormant for a while, it used to be described as "fresh to market" not long ago, but the fact that they now seem to delight in showing cars literally as found, and apparently the dirtier the better (vis 'mouldy' Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 shown) just smacks of some cynical marketing ploy, I mean how much would it have cost to get a bucket and sponge at least? The only justificaton I can think of for such restoration cases to be fetching ever increasing sums is this. Most cases are forty years or older, let's taka a sixties Aston DB as an example. If it has been off the road for at least 25 years now it has probably escaped the quick buck bodging that a lot have had to endure. Through the last twenty years a large percentage of Ferraris, Astons, Jag XK and E and other exotica may have been restored more than once with varying degrees of skill, such that it is a risk today to be spending top money on the shiniest resto' cases when it is quite possible it will all need to be undone and redone within a year or two.

Given that scenario, maybe some folks would rather be offered an honest what you see is what you get old wreck in the belief that at least it is more honest.

My favorite artilcle "oscar" must be splited between the Martin Buckley's 70's Coupés and James Page's "Meet the Ancestors"

As I like those Morgan 3 wheeler, I enjoyed Mr Page's article a lot, reading about the new kid on the block and his old uncles.

At the Mr Buckley's article, as big fan of this kind of cars, I end up with mixed feelings as my favorite styles, Fiat and Daimler (couldn't be more different cars, but I love both) aren't the best in relabitity and the style of the most reliable, the SLC, is not my cup of tea (sorry Crish, it's a very good car I know). Probably the Bimmer is the best choice, between those engineering and style extrems.

Jochen Neerpach article and Julian Balme's abouth the other side of Miami Beach Muscle are other highlights, but from the "Muscle from Miami beach", to "Old hat, new broom" and the usual regulars who keep us worldwide tunned with our passion, I really enjoy this number.

About the James Elliott's MIsfire theme, nice article but from my point of view I only say "good for them!" (the ones who sell and the people who buys).

I love digging for barn finds and so far the high point of my carear is the discover of the oldest KG in the world larking in an Oporto shed ( I will be back on that matter soon), but I suspect the reason bewind some crazy prices payed for barnfinds is the same reason why in the Monty Python "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch, a few healthy people try to show "when I was poor I was much more poor than everybody".

Those blocks had reached the highest statuts in life, so the only way they found to stand up from the crowd of other healthy people is to remember how poor they are at the beggining. In classic car high end of social vanities, after the pinacle of over restored ultra rare cars, the way to stand up from the crowd is to find the most rare and dusty forgotten car...

Good for them

Probably its due to my professional experience, but sometimes I become suspicios about some finds, they seems too perfect for me, perfect car, perfect dust over it, perfect shed, perfect "things" on the background.... and perfect light for the photograph.

Got my March C&SC on Thursday the 14th - thanks James, that was much faster.

All the usual suspects are on form, Simon's tribute to those gone and mostly forgotten was a harsh reminder of how cruel the sport was, and Martin's near-miss with the C6 and landing instead in the Avantime was written with his customary humour; FWIW I would have probably done the same.

But so far I have just got through the tale of Mr Atkinson's McLaren F1 and that is one of the best stories I have read for a long time. First for his refreshing attitude to how a car should be used, but also the in depth saga of how such a machine is built and rebuilt. For those that could afford one in the first place, the eye-watering costs go with the territory, although getting through eight clutches in 38,000 miles is a bit extreme - either he is a hooligan driver or there is a basic design fault; what passes for normal practice in a race car is unacceptable for what was always intended as a road car surely. It was also a good excuse to write a feature story about one of the all time great cars, as Simon sums up at the end "we shall not see its like again".

I will start on the OSCA report as soon as I have finished painting the bathroom ceiling, I am under orders. Then I will scan eBay for any McLaren F1s going cheap!

VERY dissapointing. For a while (after a lot of complaint) delivery times improved to France, but it seems it's back to going via South America or something! As post from the UK to here takes no more than 4 days from any of our freinds, I fail to see why C&SC takes two weeks!

I'll be only too keen to discuss the mag, when and if it arrives!

The "Greenies" are killing the planet! It's time to tell the world the Emperor is naked!